Cellcosmet and Cellmen - A long family tradition combined with inimitable Swiss know-how and expertise.
The origin of our Cellcosmet and Cellmen ranges is the beginning of a story,
rich in scientific and human endeavour. Switzerland’s unrivalled excellence in
technology, quality and precision coupled with the passion of Cellap’s founders
is at the heart of the international renown our beauty lines enjoy in the world
of skin care.
The
birth of Swiss cellular cosmetics
As an off-shoot of cellular therapy, cellular cosmetics came into
existence in Switzerland in the 1980s. It was inspired by the medical
application developed in 1931 by the founder of cellular therapy, Swiss
Professor Paul Niehans. However, it would prove to be a long scientific journey
before this revitalising technique could be successfully applied to the world
of cosmetics.
Behind this evolution lies one man, Dr Alfred Pfister (1910-1990), Swiss
doctor and former student of Professor Paul Niehans.
A true visionary with a passion for cellular science in its medical
application, he dedicated a large part of his life to researching scientific
techniques that would overcome the pitfalls previously encountered in
procedures used in traditional cellular revitalisation treatments. Until then,
whether they were freeze-dried (lyophilised) or frozen, cells continued to lose
efficacy. In response to this problem, Dr Alfred Pfister came up with a new and
effective method of stabilisation.
In 1955, he developed a conservation method that slowed down the
deterioration process of cells. It was coined the CellVital Method. Thanks to this
discovery, cells could be efficiently preserved and continue to “breathe”,while
maintaining all their vital force.
Tests carried out at the Battelle de Genève Centre for Research by
Professor Warburg, Nobel Prize for Medicine, also served to confirm the
effectiveness of this method.
Having made this major leap forward, it would now be possible to control
cells after removal. Dr. Pfister used this method for a number of years in the
medical setting of his revitalisation clinic. It was then his son, Roland C.
Pfister, who took up the reins of the clinic (1977-1985) situated on the shores
of Lake Geneva, Switzerland.
From cellular therapy to cellular cosmetics by Cellap Laboratoire
“And what can you do for skin?”
It was this very simple question posed by a patient while staying in his
revitalisation clinic that gave rise to Roland C. Pfister’s conviction that a
form of cellular science could be successfully applied to cosmetics.
The principle of revitalisation is to “stimulate and revitalise a
devitalised, prematurely aged or stressed organ with young cells taken from a
similar organ to the one being treated”.
Since the skin is a living organ, it seemed obvious that a cosmetic application based
on cellular science should be possible.
Driven by the same passion as his father for cellular science, Roland C.
Pfister drew inspiration from discoveries that, until then, had been restricted
to the medical sphere. He decided to safely and responsibly transfer these
advances to the world of cellular cosmetology.
It was on this basis that in 1978 he created and made available to
patients staying at his clinic a cellular beauty treatment.
Its success was immediate. His patients’ enthusiasm was such that they
quickly expressed a desire to continue the treatment beyond their stay in the
clinic. In response to this, Roland C. Pfister had to come up with a cosmetic
treatment that would hold the cells in an ointment form that could be used
outside of a medical setting. In overcoming this hurdle he opened the doors to
cellular cosmetics.
This era was also marked by a quest to find cosmetic manufacturers able
to take on the production of cellular cosmetics. However, the formulations
envisaged by Roland C. Pfister were of such a technical nature that none of the
manufacturers felt up to the job. The specifications were that the cells must
conserve their specific biological features as well as their activity over a
prolonged period of time.
The manufacturers were quick to suggest he use the freeze-dried cells
they were already producing for other skin care brands. However, this was of no
interest to Roland C. Pfister for whom the presence of cell vitality in the
creams was an absolute must.
But determined not to give up on
his project and convinced of the possibility of creating cosmetics based on
cellular science, Roland C. Pfister gathered around him leading experts in
biology and medicine. He then acquired his first 20kg capacity homogeniser
machine and, in collaboration with a galenic technician, began work on
developing the ingredients that would be used in his future Swiss
cellular cosmetic lines, Cellcosmet and Cellmen.
The
New Generation of Swiss Cellular Cosmetics
In 1982, Roland C. Pfister created Cellap Laboratoire S.A. The company
would devote itself exclusively to researching and developing cosmetic
products.
And just two years later, in August 1984 they finally came up with a
definitive formulation that could be used in cosmetic treatments. Initially
these treatments were only available to patients at the revitalisation clinic,
still managed at the time by Roland C. Pfister.
But with the experimental stage at a close and given the products’
immediate success, it seemed only logical to make these unique skin care
treatments internationally available.
The decision was finally taken in 1985 when Roland C. Pfister gave up
directorship of the revitalisation clinic in order to fully devote himself to
the launch of this new generation of Swiss cellular cosmetics.
Helped and supported by his wife, Edith Pfister, it took a further two
years to finalise the concept of Cellcosmet cosmetics for women and Cellmen cosmetics for men as, before they could
properly launch these cellular skin care lines onto the international market, a
mountain of work awaited them.
This included producing packaging, documentation and instruction
manuals, reformulating the cellular stabilisation methods to adapt them to
their new use in dermocosmetics, and a host of other challenges to ensure the selective distribution of the Cellcosmetand Cellmen ranges in both Switzerland and abroad.
In 1986, Cellap Laboratoire S.A.
took up premises in Mont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland where it is home to its own
production and processing laboratory, a technologically pioneering R&D
department and a team of leading cosmetologists and biologists.
Cellap Laboratoire
completed the development of the CellControlTM method in 1987
This was a real breakthrough in the world of cosmetics and a key
moment in the history of cellular cosmetics. It also heralded the start of an
international success story.
The CellControlTM method
means that cellular material can be kept in its active state for months at a
time, thanks to the use of a stabilising liquid especially developed by
scientists at Cellap
Laboratoire.
This provides access to active
stabilised bio-integral cells that
not only maintain their biological integrity but also their extraordinary vital
energy. These cells can then be incorporated into the formulation of the Cellcosmet and Cellmen products that, in turn, are
selectively distributed throughout the world by Cellap Laboratoire.
To this day, the CellControlTM method
that Cellap Laboratoireapplies to its cellular products remains the most
effective and best adapted treatment for stimulating skin revitalisation.
Toward success
The international markets were quick to show an interest in the product
ranges. From January 1988, the telex machine crackled with exclusive
distribution requests from Europe, Asia and countries as diverse as Japan, the
USA and Russia.
This evolution took place not only in terms of markets but also in terms
of laboratory, collaborator and product structures, as well as the ongoing
growth of the company whose major milestones are outlined below.
1988:
Alexandre Chappuis, Roland C. Pfister's stepson, joins Cellap Laboratoire S.A.
In line with the rich family heritage, Alexandre Chappuis – Cellap
Laboratoire’s current CEO – joined the company with the same passion and desire
to innovate that had been passed down to him from previous generations.
Above all, Alexandre Chappuis sees it as his task to ensure the ongoing
development and consolidation of the Cellcosmet andCellmen brand positioning in the Swiss and
international markets.
1993:
phyto products are added to the range of cellular products
In order to respond to the growing needs for relaxation and well-being, Cellap Laboratoire integrated marine and
plant components into a number of its products, the latter containing floral
extracts as well as plant and essential oils. Phyto bio-complexes are used whenever
they seem the best adapted and most efficient solution in terms of the desired
outcome.
Cellap Laboratoire has also developed exceptional polyactive treatments
by combining within the same formulation (and depending on the desired
properties) active stabilised bio-integral cells with phyto bio-complexes. Benefitting from the amplifying synergy that
these different active ingredients produce (Cyto + Phyto), these formulas
potentiate the results obtained. Even today, Cellap Laboratoire is one of the
few laboratories in the world to master both cyto (cellular) and phyto (plant) bio-complex technologies.
1994:
opening of the American subsidiary of Cellap Laboratoire S.A. - Swisscosmet
Corporation
Initially set up in New York, Swisscosmet Corp. moved its headquarters
to Florida in 2009 to a made-to-measure building designed to house its offices
and warehouse.
1997:
stabilised bio-integral cells are obtained using biotechnology - a new feat in
the world of cellular cosmetics
As innovators in dermocosmetics, Cellap Laboratoire achieved yet another
first in 1997. They began using biotechnology to obtainactive stabilised bio-integral cells. This revolutionary
method enables cells to be recovered in large numbers from an initial cell.
From this point on it would no longer be necessary to retrieve samples for each
application. As a result, the products could be made available on a wider scale
while still being able to ensure maximum effectiveness and safety.
1998:
Cellap Laboratoire is converted into a holding company
The headquarters of Cellap Laboratoire Holdings are located in
Mont-sur-Lausanne, Switzerland on the site already housing Cellap's
laboratories.
2005: Cellap Laboratoire is ISO 9001:2000 certified and recently ISO
9001:2008 certified
2009:
the launch of 7 new products from the Cellmen men's range
These new products join the existing products in the Cellmen men’s range. The high-tech products
that make up this men's range offer a targeted response to the modern man who
takes care of his looks and is concerned about his appearance. Today, Cellmen is still the only range of cellular and
phyto cosmeceuticals to respect the hormonal identity of
male skin.
2010:
Cellap Laboratoire acquires its production site in Mont-sur-Lausanne,
Switzerland
Cellap Laboratoire’s ultra-modern and ultra-sophisticated premises
extend over more than 3,000m2. These new
premises are a logical step in Cellap Laboratoire's plan to increase its
company capacity in terms of production and distribution both nationally and
internationally.
2011:
the launch of the exclusive and highly confidential CellEctive range with its
ultra-smoothing and plumping cellular serum - CellLift Serum
Made from highly concentrated, high-performance ingredients, this range
is the fruit of rigorous, cutting-edge scientific research to guarantee
exceptional results.
This delicate and luxurious range came into being in 2011 with the
launch of its first product, CellLift Serum, an anti-ageing, ultra-smoothing cellular serum with immediate and
visible results. It has enjoyed overwhelming success in the markets covered by Cellap Laboratoire.
Then and now...
...with the opening up of high-potential markets, the consolidation of
commercial relationships, the introduction of new concepts and the development
of new products, Cellap Laboratoire S.A. is undeniably writing and making its
mark on the history of cellular cosmetics.
The Cellcosmet and Cellmen brands have been able
to offer a new vision in cosmetics, which is both exclusive and confidential,
state-of-the-art and 100% Swiss-made.
In this spirit Cellap Laboratoire
will continue to follow its desire to provide clients with the high-performance
products offered in its Swiss cyto and phyto ranges, Cellcosmet and Cellmen.
